Page 146 - Caribbean-Central America Profile 2018

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

CARIBBEAN-CENTRAL AMERICA PROFILE 2018

TRADE AGREEMENTS AND Senators appointed on the advice of the Leader Ministry of The Attorney General
INVESTMENT TREATIES of the Opposition and 9 Independent Senators Cabildo Chambers
Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the appointed by the President to represent other 23-27 St. Vincent Street,
Caribbean Community (CARICOM), sectors of civil society. Executive power lies Port of Spain, Trinidad
Association of Caribbean States (ACS), with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, which Tel: (868) 623-7010
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), World is appointed from Members of Parliament. Fax: (868) 625-0470
Trade Organization (WTO), and is a signatory Tobago has its own elected Assembly responsible E-mail: ag@ag.gov.tt
to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade for the administration of the island, and for the Website: www.ag.gov.tt
(GATT), and to the Global System of Trade implementation of policies, which are referred Ministry of Community Development,
Preferences (GSTP). by Parliament. An Electoral College consisting Culture and the Arts
INVESTMENT PROTECTION of members of the House of Representatives Level 20, Nicholas Tower
63-65 Independence Avenue
MECHANISMS and the Senate elects the President of Trinidad Port of Spain, Trinidad
Bilateral Investment Agreements which and Tobago for a 5-year renewable term. The Tel: (868) 625-0639
guarantee foreign investors a level playing Judiciary is independent of the Government. Website: www.cdca.gov.tt
field exist between Trinidad and Tobago and This is guaranteed by the Constitution, which
the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. A provides for the entrenched protection of Ministry of Education
Bilateral Investment Treaty and an Intellectual fundamental human rights and freedoms. These Education Tower
Property and Rights Agreement have been rights are guaranteed to foreign investors, just as St Vincent Street
entered into with the United States. they are to Trinidad and Tobago nationals. Port of Spain, Trinidad
Tel: (868) 622-2181
Highlights of the Bilateral Investment ELECTIONS Fax: (868) 622-4892
Treaty Include: General elections were held in Trinidad and Website: www.moe.gov.tt
• A requirement that the treatment of foreign Tobago on 7 September 2015. The result was Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries
a victory for the opposition People’s National
investments be no less favourable than that
accorded domestic investments (“National Movement, which received 52% of the vote Levels 15 & 22-26, Energy Tower
International Waterfront Centre
Treatment”). and won 23 of the 41 seats in the House of #1 Wrightson Road
Representatives. The next General elections are
• A prohibition against expropriation of an due to be held in 2020. Port of Spain, Trinidad
investment without just compensation Tel: (868) 623-6708
calculated as the equivalent to the fair GOVERNMENT LEADERS Fax: (868) 625-0306
market value of the expropriated investment President Website: www.energy.gov.tt
immediately before expropriatory action. Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona
• A requirement that investments suffering President’s House, St. Ann’s Ministry of Finance
Level 18, Eric Williams Finance Building,
losses from war or similar events be Port of Spain, Trinidad
accorded National Treatment. Tel: (868) 625-8091 Independence Square,
Port of Spain, Trinidad
• A provision to allow financial transfers E-mail: infodiv@ttgov.gov.tt Tel: (868) 612-9700
relating to the investments to be made Prime Minister Fax: (868) 627-5882
freely and without delay into and out of Dr. Keith Rowley Website: www.finance.gov.tt
each country. 13-15 St. Clair Avenue,
• A provision to ease requirements relating St. Clair, Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs
to entry, sojourn and employment of aliens Port of Spain, Trinidad Levels 10 - 14 Tower C
for establishing foreign investment of a Tel: (868) 622-1625 International Waterfront Complex
Wrightson Road
substantial capital amount. Fax: (868) 622-0055 Port of Spain, Trinidad
• A prohibition against performance E-mail: opm@ttgov.gov.tt Tel: (868) 623-6894
requirements as a condition for investment. Fax: (868) 623-5853
• A provision for dispute resolution Chief Secretary – Tobago House of Assembly Website: www.foreign.gov.tt
alternatives, including binding arbitration. Kelvin Charles
Administrative Complex Ministry of Health
GOVERNMENT Calder Hall 63 Park Street
The nation follows the Westminster model Tobago Port of Spain, Trinidad
of Government and upholds the traditions of Tel: (868) 639-2696 Tel: (868) 627-0010
Parliamentary Democracy it inherited from Fax: (868) 639-5374 Fax: (868) 623-9528
Britain. Website: www.health.gov.tt

The country gained Independence in 1962 and MINISTRIES Ministry of Housing and Urban
became a Republic in 1976. It is a member of Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Development
the British Commonwealth. Legislative power St. Clair Circle, St. Clair 44 – 46 South Quay
lies with the House of Representatives with 41 Port of Spain, Trinidad Port of Spain, Trinidad
elected members. The Senate has 31 members: Tel: (868) 622-1221 Tel: (868) 623-4663
16 Government Senators appointed on the Fax: (868) 622-8202 Fax: (868) 625-2793
advice of the Prime Minister, 6 Opposition Website: www.agriculture.gov.tt Website: www.housing.gov.tt

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